Per Mertesacker is entrusted with the job of collecting fines from Arsenal players in breach of club discipline but the German may find himself going cap in hand to manager Arsene Wenger for his place in the team.

Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini has spelt out his determination to secure a place in the Europa League.

A consolation place in the knockout
stages of Europe's second-tier competition is now the best City can hope for
from their disappointing Champions League campaign.

The Barclays Premier League
champions have failed to win any of their first five Group D matches and will
bow out of the tournament after their final match against Borussia Dortmund on
Tuesday.

Even finishing third in the group
will be a tough task. City will need to beat the group winners in Germany and
hope Real Madrid, also already through to the last 16, can do them a favour
against Ajax.

Mancini said: "Yes, we want to
stay in the Europa League - this is normal.

"It is another competition,
another trophy to try to win.

"Maybe when it starts in
February it is not so important and could be a problem because we play more
games, but if you arrive in the semi-final or the final it becomes an important
competition for us. And for this reason we want to stay in Europe."